Submarine or submersible boat



sept.- lan Filed July 7. 1917 ammala SUBIARINE 0R SUBMERSIBLE BOAT FiledJuly 7. 1917 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 31404 tot Hilo:

Sept. 30 1924.

s. LAKE SUBMARINE OR SUBMERSIBLE BOAT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July '2.,191:7

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Sept. 3o 1924.

Y 1,510,283 s. LAKE sUBmRIN'E on sUMERsILE son 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :medJuly v. 1917 Y 1,510,283' Supt 30 |924. s. LAKE SUBMARINE 0R SUBMERSIBLBBOAT led July 'L 1917 s sheets-smet s Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES SIMON LAKE, 0F MILFORID, CONNEGTIGUT.

SUBMARIN'E on SUBMERSILE BOAT'.

Application led July 7,

To all y107mm t may' concern Be it known that I', SIMON LAKE, a citizenoi the llnited States residing at Mil ford, in tlie county'of New HavenandI State or Gonnecticut, have invented certain new andi usefulImprovements in Submarine or Submersible Boa-Es, of iv'liic'li thefollowing is af specification.

The invention relates to improvements in submarine or submersible boatsof that class constructed oi a plurality of tubular hull sections, andhas for its object to provide such a boat of shipshape form to permit ofthe fair lines for surface navigation, and to withstand the pressuresincident to submergence, the irwenti'on being particularly designed andadapted for carrying cargoes in bulk, such as Wheat, sugar, oils, andother expansible commodities, and whichV shall be designed and adaptedto provide great hull strength and' displaceinent, and to insure amaximum degreev of safety, Cruising range, surface and submerged speed,and which shall possess greatv longitudinal strength when operating uponthe surface under `"llo'ggi`ng` and "sagging" stresses', theconstruction and arrangement beingV such as to provide greaterlonfitudinalf strength; greater stability, bothA or surface andsubmerged operation; a greater maximum degree of safety, and greaterseaworthiness than boats of the same general type as heretoi'oreconstructed;

The invention relates particularlyf to improvements in the constructionss own in United States Letters Patents Nos. 756,030; 926907, and1,169,9703 granted to me March Q95 1904; June E22, 1909, and February l,1916, respectively.

The invention consists in the novel construction of a submarine orsubmersible boat composed ot' a plurality of longitudinally arrangedhull sections, each being of suilicient strength to withstand themaximum i pressure of submergence for which the boat is designed, and inthe novel arrangement of a longitudinally disposed control compartmentof substantially cylindrical form in cross section, and in thearrangement of substantially cylindrical passageways connected to saidvcontrol compartment and to said hull sections, said control compartmentand said passagewuys providing a longitudinal girder Well above theneutral axis of the boat, thereby not only providing greater strengthwhen operating under begging 1917*. serial m. 179,183:

and sagging stresses, but also a' constructien aiording greatercom-forts for the per'- sormelE than i'n boatsof thisY general typ as"heretofore constructedl, theV construction and arrangement being such'Vthat access may beY had between the control compartment aint-lg thelongitudinal p'assafgeways, and to the several compartments of the boatas WillV be hereinafter described. rlihe inventionV further consists inthe peculiar and noveli arrangement of a central, longitudinali?arranged water ballast compartfmerrt,y conibined with means forcontrolling tfli'e con cents er the' Severin ballast compartments@thematic hull", whereby the said2 ballast compartments may be maintainedcompletely liiled under varying changes of temprature, and especiallywhen carryin cargoes G15 oilV and other expansible comme ities'.

The invention further consists in the pe;- culiar and novel arrangementof an anchor hoisting compartment' arranged" Within the bow ot the boatand having communica/tion with the control compartnielt, and i thepeculiar arrangement of azr tiller comparti ment arrangedg in the sternsection'l of the boat and also having communieatowith the said controlcompartme1it`,and further, in the provision of means 1ii-*hereby accessbetween the said compartments and the aforesaid communicatingpassageways of theV boa-t may be controlled.

The invention still" further consists in the peculiar and novelconstruction of main bulkheads arran di throughout the marin hullsections of tile' boat, in the peculiar and novel arrangement ofstrengthening mem'- bers arranged within the main hullscions, and incertain other novel features of con-j struction and arrangements of artsas will be hereinafter fully describe and then claimed.

In the drawings, illust-retin the invention, in the several Afigures owhich like parte are similarly designated, Figure 1 is: a diagrammaticlongitudinal' section' drawnthrough theY after end of the'boat ong the'line (z-c of Fig. 7 of the drawings; Fig'. 2" is; a similarview drawn onthe same line of the for-Ward endl of the boat. Fig. 3 is aYV da;igft-aromatic longitudinal section drawn through the after endY of theboatV on the line Zi-b of Fig. 7. Fig. l is a diagrammatic longitudinalSection of the forward* @ne also drawn on the line b-Z) of Fig. 7. Fig.5? is a horizontal sectional planV View of tlieY aftex' indicated by thearrows.

section of the boat. Fig. 6 is a similar view of thedforward section ofthe hoist.; Fig. 7 is a transverse section drawn on a larger scalethrough the main hull sections and through the control compartment ofthe boat. Fi 8 is a transverse section drawn through t e main hullsections and through the after communicating passage and through theengine and battery compartments of the boat. Fig. 9 is a transversesection drawn on the line c--c of Fig. 2 of the drawings lookin in thedirection idg. 10 is a detail of construction illustrating a differentarrangement for filling the main cargo carrying tanks of the boat whendesigned for carrying liquid cargoes.

The boat is preferably constructed of two parallel main hull sections 1,substantially cylindrical throughout their length and having upwardlyinclined tapered bow and stern sections 2 VVand 3, respectively, said.sections being of gradually diminishing sizes and preferably ofcircular form, and from which extend Vplatings 2 and 3', to provide fora shipshape form of hull best adapted for surface cruising. The saidhull sections are connected throughout their lengthY by suitable trussframes (not shown), whereby the said sections are rigidly joined to forma unit, it being, of course, understood that thesaid hull sections 1 areconstructed of ribs 1 (Figs. and 9), and shell plating l in the usualmanner. The hull platings l of the main hull sections are connected by ahorizontally arranged divisional plate 4, Figs. 7 and 9. The bottoms lorlower surfaces of said hull sections are connected. by a plate 5forming the bottom of the boat, the space thus formed between the innersides of the main hull sections and the plate 4 and plate 5 provides alongitudinal compartment 7 extending throughout the entire length of themain hull sections 1. Connected to the main hull sections 1, and to thebottom plate or plates 5, are longitudinal vertically arranged beams 6,extending throughout practically the entire length of the hull of theboat, and which serve to provide the said central longitudinallyextending compartment 5, said com'- partment being divided by transversepartitions 9 into a plurality of compartments 9', which may be utilizedfor various purposes in the operation of the boat. The space, formedbetween the after transverse partition 9 and buikhead 9, closing thespace at the end of the main hull sections, provides a batterycompartment 10 in which arranged battery cells 10 for operating the boatunder submerged conditions. It will` bennderstood that thelongitudinally arranged beams 6 will be perforated throughout theirlength to afford communication with the compartments 8, designed toreceive water ballast, and also to provide communication between theYsaid longitudinal compartment 7 and the lateral compartments 8. Betweenthe partitions 9, forming the battery compartment and various othercompartments which it might be desired to maintain water-tight, the saidbeams 6 will be of solid construction, so that a plurality ofwater-tight compartments may be provided throughout the length of theboat, the said Water-tight compartments being so distributed as to serveto the best advantage in the operation of the boat, such, for instance,as for the installation of pumping apparatus, air bottles, fuel tanks,storage tanks for fresh water, and other apparatus or articles, andintorwhich access may be desired under various conditions of theoperation of the boat. It will also be understood that by thearrangement of the lateral water channels or compartments 8, there isopen communication between the several intermediate compartments 7 andthe lateral compartments 8, tl'iereby eliminating a plurality of valvesfor controlling the admission of Water to and the expulsion of waterfrom the central compartment 7, as would be the case were the severalcom artments 9 completely cut ofi' from eac other.

The main hull sections 1 are divided throughout their length bybulkheads 11, preferably arranged in pairs of concaveconvex form incross section having their concave surfaces arranged opposite each otherwhereby to provide greater strength to the hull sections. The ends ofthe main hull sections 1 are closed by similar bulkheads 12, and thespaces 13, formed between the after bulkheads 12 and the adjacentbullrheads 11, provide engine compartments in which are arranged engines14, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 of the drawings` the said engineshaving their shafts extended through the hull of the boat and havingpropellers at their outer ends in the usual manner. It will, of course,be understood that suitable stuiiing-boxes are provided in thebulkheads, and in the plating of the stern of the boat, in accordancewith common practice.

Extending upwardly from the tops of the main hull sections 1 are sidemembers 15 of a superstructure 16, and connected to the said sidemembers 15 are decks 18 havin their longitudinal edges connected tovertical walls 1.7 extending from the hull platings of the main hullsections, as shown most clearly in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the said decks 18forming what I prefer to term a harbor deck. The said superstructure andthe said harbor deck extend from the extreme bow of the boat to a pointadja cent to the end of the stern section, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.There may also be a cruis- Leashes' irigdedk 19 on top of thesuperstructure 16, as shown in fu'll lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, andas indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, this deck Abeing shown asarranged over the central control compartment next described.

Arranged centrally Within the'superstrnctitre lied hv'ing itslongitudinal center arranged over the center of gravity and center-ofbuoyancy of the boat, is a central control compartment 20, and from theends o the control compartment extend substentially cylindricalpassagcways 21 having* communication with the ends of the compartment2() through openings 2E-oontroliel by doors The seid controiediiphrtinent is tor-med with laterally arranged hetchwsys 24 1(Fig. 7),controlled domi-S25, said lhatchvvays opening into t soperstructure 16.Hatchways 26 (Fig. 7), may also be provided leading from the eetralcontrol compartment to the adjacent cargo carrying compartments of themein hull sections, and these hatchwnys Will beelesei by 'hatch covers27 opening into sedeontrol Acompartment 20. `pening into the severalYcompartments ot' therinain hull see-tions 1 are hatchways 28 providedwith lntteh coversi), said covers being provided Withfsuitable pipeconnections 30 for lling the c'a-r ocarrying 'tanks or compartments, andWit ventsSl, as shown. lVhile I have shown and described an arrangementfor filling the several cargo carrying Comparo ments o'r tanksthrong'htlie heten covers, 'it will, of course,lbe understood thattheilling openings also may be utilized for Ypumping liqiiid cargoesfrom said tanksfo'r compartments, and, if desired, the said tanks orcompartments may be filled and emptied through pipes SQlFig. 10).extending into thelbottoms of said tanks or compartments, and havingconnections through pipes 33 with suitable pumps (not shown), arrangedWitlii-nthe boat, simil-ar to those employed infill siibmarine'boatslfor pumping Water intoend out-of the ballast-tenksfand in aiifraiinersomewhat similar-fico the method of pumping oii into and fromsurface oil carryreg-vessels.

oniiectedto the topof the central water compartment 7 are pipes 34having their ends extending 'into and opening into the seid heitchiveys2S. The pipes 34 vare provided with valves 35 having their stemsextending' into V.the control compartment 2() and into Vthepassegew'ays, and provided with e 'rating handles. Ot course, it will beVun" ersteod that one-of sech pipesand their'V valve connections nre'arranged Vin each cargo carrying'tank or compartment, end serve thepfurpose of controlling the contents of said tanks or compartments asviiilbe 1best understood from the genere] description of the operationof `the boat.

Admission of Vwater to the water conmem-4 incnts 7 is controlled byvalves ith' (Fig. 7), having their stems extended upwardly throughthchoriiontal divisional plates 4, forming the top of the central watercornpart-ment T, and through the plating oi' the central controlcompartment 2f). and hnving their inner ends provided with hand wheelsby which the valves :i6 are controlled.

The main hull scctions i arc provided throughout their length withlteelson beams 37, having their upper ends connected by horizontallyarranged piates which mal,vr be solid to provide ballast compartments39, or perforated so :is to provide continustions of the several ballasttanks or compartments oi' the main hull sections 1. ln either case,however, it Will be understood that the said keelson beams 3T and thesaid horizontally arranged plates 3S serve to strengthen the main hullsections 1, and from the inner longitudinal edges o the plates 38 there.may be extended strengthen ing plates 40 providing strengtheningmenibers upon opposite sides of the water ballast compartment 7, and thespaces adjacent to the several tanks of the boat.

The battery compartment l() may be thrown int-o communication with theengine compartments 13 through a passageway 4l extending through thehull platings of the main hulls and having its ends provided with doorsor covers 42, and opening through one side of the said passageway 41 isa door way 13 controlled by a suitable door ieading` into said batterycompartment. The said battery compartment :is also arranged incommunication with the after passageway 21 through a hatchway 14controlled by a cover 45, :i suitable ladder 4G (shown in dotted linesin Fig. S). being' provided to facilitate entrance to und exit from thcbettery compartment.

To the platiugs oi' the main hull sections, within the compartments 13'forming the engine rooms, there are arranged a plurality of frames 47tFig. 8), having their inner members connected airend Water-tight byplates 49, heving ends 50 which are also connected ai-rand water-tightto the hull plat ings of the main sections 1, whereby to providecompartments 5l.. which mag| bc ittilzed either as Water ballastcompartments, or as inell compartments for the engines as occasion maydictate.

ln the extreme bow section of the boat there is arranged an anchorcompartment 5:2 hav-ingv access with the forward ends of the psssageways21 through tubular passages or tunnelsf, the entrances to which arecontrolled by doors'l controllingr openings formed in the bulkheads 12.The said anchor compartment 52 is provided with anchor weils 55 (shownin dotted lines in Fig. Q). which serve to house the anchors when llithe boat is operating either upon or below the surface of the Water, thesaid anchors being, of course, supported by suitable anchor cables (notshown), Wound upon hoisting drums (not shown), mounted Within the anchorcompartment 52, it being understood that suitable mechanisms operablefrom Within the anchor compartment, or from within the central controlcompartment, are arranged for operating the hoisting drums forcontrolling the raising and lowering of the anchors ince this feature ofthe invention is common in submarine boats, and particularly that classshown and described in my United States Letters Patent No. 716,059. l donot deem it necessary to dwell in detail upon this feature of theinvention; and While the construction shown in my said latent No.716,059 shows the anchor cable wound upon drums on the sides of theconning tower or turret of the boat, it is obvi ous that similar drumsmay be arranged within the anchor compartment, and operated either fromsaid con'ipartment, or from the central control compartment, Withoutdeparting from the broad idea of the invention.

In the stern section of the boat there is located a tiller compartment60 having snit.- able connections (not shown) arranged therein forcontrolling the position of the rudder, and this compartment 60 isconnected through a passage tube 61 with the after ends of the afterpassageway 2l, and, like the passageway at the forward end of theforward passage tube, is controlled by a hatch cover or door 62. It willbe understood that suitable connections will be made between the tillercompartment and the control compartment for operating the rudder. but asthis feature also forms no part of the present invention, it is notthought necessary to show or describe the same.

It will, of course, be understood that the boat, as herein described,will, of necessity. be provided With suitable observation towers,periscopes, and guard rails as is customary 1n all submarine orsubmersible boats.

I do not claim the broad idea of constructin a submarine or submersibleboat of a plurality of parallel tubular hull sections` since thisconstruction is clearl shown and described in my aforesaid l nitedStates Letters Patent ho. 926,007, of J une 22, 1909, but what l doclaim is that the construction shown in the present application providesa form of construction Aglving greater longitudinal strength than thatof an ordinary ship under begging and sagging stresses, due tothe factthat both the moment of inertia and section modulus of the materialentering into the construction of the hull is greater than that enteringinto the construction of lthe hulls of other vessels of the same.length, breadth, and depth of hold. The hull is constructed of tubularsections extending throughout the greater part of `the boats length withkeelsons of great strength, by Which, combined with the upper tubularsection, there is provided a construction which serves to take up alltension imposed upon the vessel under hogging stresses, and with myspecial arrangement of deck plates located well above the neutralhorizontal axis of the boat, the strains coming upon the vessel underhogging" stresses, such as occur when riding the crest of a Wave, arealso taken care of. Also, nity novel method prevents the shifting ofliquid cargoes of expansible nature, whereby the cango carrying tanks orcom partments may be maintained to their full capacity, or as expressedin nautical terms chock-a-block, which is an absolutely essentialfeature of navigation, as it prevents the shifting of the cargo, andhence the excessive pitching or rolling of the vessel. which wouldotherwise occur when the tanks are only partly filled. This feature ofmy invention may be best understood from the following description ofthe general operation of the invention, attention bein invitedparticularly to Fig. 7 of the drawings, in which the central ballasttank 7 is shown provided with water inlet valves 36 open to the sea, andoperated from Within the central control compartment 20, whereby theflooding of said compartment 7 may be controlled. It is Well known thatoil expands under rising temperatures. To provide for such expansion, Ipurpose to first admit a certain amount of sea water into the tank ortanks 7 corresponding to the maximum amount of expansion which may beexpected` which depends upon the specific gravity of the cargo. Thevalves 36 are then closed. Oil may be pumped into the several compartments of the main hull sections 1 with the vents 31 and valves 35open so that the said compartments may be filled chock-ablock, afterwhich the said vents are closed and the filling pipes removed. The waterinlets 36 to the said compartments are then sealed. This operation, ofcourse, will take place when the several ballast tanks or compartmentsare being filled through` the hatches arranged in the harbor decks ofthe boat, and when the said ballast tanks or compartments of the boatare ben ing filled or emptied through the pipes 32 leading into thebottom sections of the said tanks or compartments, the said inlets 3()connected to the hatch covers 29 will be maintained closed, and thevents '3l will remain open so as to insure the complete filling of thesaid tanks or compartments. The valve or valves 36 controlling admissionto the Water channels 7 and 8 may then be o en to the sea, and dueto thefact of the di erences between the specific gravity of water 4Jun .several tanks or compartments, the consequenee would be to form a vacuumwithin the tanks or compartments so that sea Water will be drawn intothe tanks 7 to thus force the-oil inthe upper end thereof back into thetanks or compartments of the hull sections l, thus always maintainingthe compartments completely filled, which is essential especially insubmarine boats. since it prevents the shifting of the center of gravityof the li uid contents, which would otherwise take ptlace andhence causedifficulty in maintaining the trimV of the boat.

It will be noted that the tubular pressure resisting members 1 of thevessel have their forward and after ends connected by the bow and sternsections 2 and 3', which sections are preferably constructed so as to benormally open to the sea, and that the 'torward and after main hullsections have their axes arranged in upwardly inclined directions sothat they will merge fairly into the no-npressureresisting bow and sternsections, to permit of the fairing lines of the boat. `It will also benoted that by providing the double bulkheads of the shape described, Iprovide a plurality of coii'er damsV throughout and at the ends of themain hull sections so that in the event of injury or an explosion in anyone of the several tanks or conipartrnents of the boat, it Will beunderstood that one ot the bulkheads will be under tensionand the'otherunder compression, hence providing-a very strong construction capable ofpreventing the force of the explosion in any one compartment Jfromextending into the adjacent compartment. Compressed air pipes (notshow-n). will be extended into the cotfer dams and into the severalcompartments: of the boat, whereby water may be blown from and thecompartments kept free from Water in the event' of rupture to theplatings of the boat at or near the bottom thereof. It will also beappreciated that the spaces formed: by and between the double bulkheadsmay be used as ballast tanks, or as fresh iva/ter tanks, fuel tanks, orfor the storage of other commodities carriedfby the boat.

It will thus be seen that l provide a construction of hull whereby aboat of greater length and of exceptionally shallow-draft commensuratewith the length and beam may be produced,y and one that possesses greatlongitudinal. and transverse strengthq and particularly adaptedV for thecarrying' of liq uid cargoes, By this construction also the shifting ot',liquid cargoes of expansib-le nature may be prevented or provided tor,so that the boat may be maintained upon an even keel when travellingsubmerged, or in a semi-sulnnerged rendition, and whereby is avoidedexcessive ioiling and pitching motion ci the ship when operating uponthe surface ot the water, and furthermore, whereby the longitudinallyarranged substantially cylindrical control and communieatingcompartments, combined with the arrangement of keelsons. is provided :inovel 'forni ot submarine boat possessing greater advantages and greaterstrength than that ot similar vessels heretofore constructed.

.lt will. ot' course, be understood that various strengthening plates,or, in other WordsE bulkheads. may be arranged throughout the severalcargo carrying tanks or compartments to add greater strength to the hullsections,V and that the central Water compartment 7 may also be providedwith suitable longitudinally arranged beams or keelsons T0, as shown inFig.` 9', and' which may be connected by transversely arranged per-Vtorated bracket plates 7l having their opposite ends connected to thebeams 6, thereby providing supports both for the beams or keelsons 70and the beams 6.

What I claim is:-V

l. In a submarine or submersible boat` a plurality of hullV sectionshaving a 'plurality of oil carrying tanks or compartments, a controlcompartment arrangetl above and connectcd to said hull sections andcommunicatinnr therewith. and means operable from Within said controlcompartment for governing the contents of said tanks or compartments,

2. In a submarine or submersible boat, a plurality of main hull sectionshaving transversely extending passages, means for controlling the saidpassages, a superposed control Vcompartment connected to andcommunicating with saidmain hull sections, bulkheads arranged withinsaid main hull sectionsV providing a plurality of cargo carrying tanks.and means operable Jfrom Within said control compartment for governingthe contents of said tanks, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a submarine or submersible boat, a plurality of main hull sectionshavin transversely extending passagesgnaens or controlling the endsofsaid passages, a superposed control compartment connected to and'communicating with said main hull sections, bulkheads arranged withinsaid main hull sections providing a plurality of cargo carryingrtanks.means operable from Within said control compartaient for governing thecontents of said tanks, as specified, and a superstructure extendingfrom said hull sections and surrounding said control compartment.

4. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a lurality of hullsections provided with bulklieads, a central control compartmentarranged above said hull sections and communicating therewith, bow andstern sections connected with said hull sections and with said controlcompartment, an anchor compartment arranged in the bow section ot theboat and a tiller compartment arranged in the after section of the boat,and passage Ways ali'ording communication with said anchor compartmentand with said tiller compartment.

5. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a plurality ofsubstantially cylindrical hull sections united to each other, asubstantially cylindrical control compartment arranged above andconnected to said hull sections, and substantially cylindrical sectionsconnected to said hull sections and to Said control compartment, saidcontrol compartment and said cylindrical sections providing alongitudinal girder above the vertical axis of the boat.

6. In a submarine or submersible boat, constructed of a plurality ofsubstantially cylindrical hull sections united to each other, asuperposed substantially cylindrical control compartment, andsubstantially cylindrical passageways connected to the forward and afterends of said control compartment, said control compartment and saidassageways providing a longitudinal gir er well above the neutral axisof the boat.

7. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a plurality ofindependent hull sec tions united to each other and having platingsproviding the bottom of the boat, longitudinally arranged beam-sconnecting the platings of said hull sections and said botr tom platesproviding a central longitudinal water compartment, a substantiallyVcylindrical control compartment arranged above and connected to saidhull motions, and substantially cylindrical members extending fore andaft of said central control compartment and communicating therewith,said central control compartment and said cylindrical members providinga superposed girder, substantially as specified.

8. A `submarine or submersible boat, comprising a pluralityr ofsubstantially *cylindrical hull sections, bow and stern sectionsconnected thereto, bottom platings connected to the platings of saidhull sections, longitudinally arranged beams connected to the plating ofsaid hull sections and to said bottom platings, as and for the purposespecified, a superstructure extending from the said hull sections, acontrol compartment arranged within said superstructure and connected toandV communicating with said hull sections, and longitudinally arrangedtubular sections connected to and communicating with said centralControl compartment, said control compartment and said tubular sectionsproviding a longitudinal girder well above the neutral axis of the boat.

9. In a submarine or submersible boat, a plurality of hull sectionsunited to each other and having bow and stern sections to provide ashipshape structure, platings connecting the lower sides of said hullsections providing a longitudinal water channel, as and for the purposespecilied, a superstructure arranged above and connected to said hullsections, Va centrally disposed control compartment connected to andcommunicating with said hull sections, and substantially cylindricalpassageways connected to the ends ot' said control compartment and tosaid hull sections and communicating with said control com artment andwith the said hull sections, sai control compartment and saidpassageways providing a longitudinal girder well above the neutral axisof the boat. i

10. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a plurality ofindividual hulls containing individual ballast tanks or compartments, acentral water compartment commuuimitingV with said ballast tanks orcompartments, and means for controlling the admission of water to saidcompartments.

l1. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a plurality ofindividual self-con tained hull sections having a series of individualcargo carrying compartments, an intermediate water compartment, acontrol compartment arranged above said hull seetions, and means torcontrolling the admission of water to said water compartment andoperable from said control compartment.

l2. A submarine or submersible boat, comprising a plurality ofindividual self-contained hull sections having a series Vof individualcargo carrying compartments, a centrally disposed water compartmentcommunicating with said cargo carrying compartments. said Watercompartment being disposed below said cargo carrying compartments, acentral control compartment arranged above said hull sections, and meansoperable from within said control compartment for governing the contentsof said cargo carrying compartments when said cargo carryingrcompartments contain expansible cargoes.

13. In a submarine or submersible boat. a plurality of self-containedhull sections structurally connected and provided with a harbor deck anda superstructure, a substantiallyr cylindrical control compartmentarranged within said superstructure and communicating with said hullsections, and a substantially cylindrical passageway extend ing,r fromnach end of said control Campert ment and cmnmunicntinY therewith andconnerted tn said hull Sections substantially ne; Hperified,

14. A Submarine nr submereiblc heilt, mmprising :i` plurality ofindividual self-mntaining hull sentirme, having a lnngit'ndiA nullyarranged Water compartment located in and by the space formed betweenSaid hull Sectio-ns and communica/singf with said hull sections, acentral control compartment arranged above and connected fosaid hullsections, and means controlling the admiseinn nf Water from saidlongitudinally arranged Water compartment lio said hull sections.

15. A submarine 0r submersible bont. coinprisingr a plurality ofself-contained linll Sections united to each olher` and a substantiallycylindrical control coinpirtmen arranged above and ronneted. tn Saidhull Ser-tions and rumn'mnimiing therewilh. and snhetzmtinllycylindrical sections arranged frirward and aft of Said controlcompartment and connected therewith and 1'0 said hull sections providinga` longitudinal gil-der above the neutra] axis of the boat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of July ikD. 1917.

SIMON LAKE. lllitnesses:

M. EVELYN KEEFE, LILLIAN T. MORAN.

